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Team Canada Desert Racing IRONRIDERS in
the 2006 Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, MX, NOVEMBER 16-19, 2006-
Over 30 entries attempted to run the race solo, in a quest to receive the
prestigious SCORE IronRider award, including Team Canada Racing's 93a Hellraiser
Harold, 94a Rocket Richard, and 95a Dangerous Doug. Hardship struck early, with
Harold having tire failure at mile 30, sending him over the bars and damaging his
machine. Richard fared poorly as well, with equipment failure at mile 135. Doug
made it the furthest, however he timed out missing the checkpoint after running
out of fuel at mile 299. Important lessons were learned, useful knowledge that
will assist in running next year's race.
For more info visit: www.score-international.com
Official Results
Team Canada Desert Racing pushes to the max - and beyond - in
the 2005 Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 20, 2005-
Team Canada's Rocket made an incredible start, passing other
vehicles within the first section of the course. Unfortunately,
due to a problem some internal engine components, we suffered
an engine failure early in the 2005 Baja 1000, an off-road race
through desert and mountain trails along Mexico's rugged Baja
Peninsula.
Always an extremely difficult and often treacherous race of
skill, determination, stamina, patience and teamwork for the
10-person, all-Canadian team of 2 drivers, 2 navigators, and
multiple crewmembers, this year's race was a huge disappointment,
as the Team Canada Racing Rocket was poised to with the class.
Unfortunately the crew was not able to get the Rocket into
running condition and continue the 2005 event.
THE RACE: The Baja 1000 is regarded as the most famous
international off-road event on the planet. Touted as, "the
longest, toughest, non-stop race in the world" and "the ironman
of racing," it attracts the most experienced and talented off-road,
NASCAR and other well known race drivers from the ends of the
earth, pitting them against the harsh desert environment of
Mexico's Baja Peninsula.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS: The Team has won FOUR Baja championships
in the Sportsman Truck Division in last eight years. Team members
placed first in class at the 1998 Baja 1000, repeated again in
1999, in the millennium year 2000 Baja 2000, and also in 2003.
For more info visit: www.score-international.com
Official Results
Team Canada Racing driver Mark Lehman, 1963-2006:
-WOODSTOCK, AUGUST 22, 2006-
Mark died suddenly by auto accident at age 43. Husband of Ellen,
and loving father of his daughter Sydnie. Mark was buried at Memory Gardens,
Breslau.
Mark Lehman, 1963-2006
Team Canada Desert Racing suffers a tough run of bad luck
in the 2004 Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 20, 2004-
Team Canada's Hummer suffered a transmission failure directly
off the starting line in the 2004 Baja 1000, an off-road race
through desert and mountain trails along Mexico's rugged Baja
Peninsula.
Always an extremely difficult and often treacherous race of
skill, determination, stamina, patience and teamwork for the
17-person, all-Canadian team of 2 drivers, 2 navigators, and
multiple crewmembers, this year's race was finished almost
as soon as it was begun. Unfortunately the crew was not able
to get the Hummer into running condition before the first
checkpoint "timed out" in the 2004 event.
THE RACE: The Baja 1000 is regarded as the most famous
international off-road event on the planet. Touted as, "the
longest, toughest, non-stop race in the world" and "the ironman
of racing," it attracts the most experienced and talented off-road,
NASCAR and other well known race drivers from the ends of the
earth, pitting them against the harsh desert environment of
Mexico's Baja Peninsula.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS: The Team has won FOUR Baja championships
in the Sportsman Truck Division in last seven years. Team members
placed first in class at the 1998 Baja 1000, repeated again in
1999, in the millennium year 2000 Baja 2000, and also in 2003.
For more info visit: www.score-international.com,
race coverage will be aired on Speed Channel.
Official Results
Team Canada Desert Racing WINS Class in 2003
Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 25, 2003-
Team Canada returned as class champions today from the Baja
Peninsula after competing in this year's Baja 1000. The Baja
1000 is an off-road race through desert and mountain trails
along Mexico's rugged Baja Peninsula.
Always an extremely difficult and often treacherous race of
skill, determination, stamina, patience and teamwork for the
6-person, all-Canadian team of 3 drivers, 1 navigator and 2 crew
and this year posted the ultimate test - the toughest Baja course
ever according to SCORE International, the race organizers and
sanctioning body.
THE RACE: The Baja 1000 is regarded as the most famous
international off-road event on the planet. Touted as, "the
longest, toughest, non-stop race in the world" and "the ironman
of racing," it attracts the most experienced and talented off-road,
NASCAR and other well known race drivers from the ends of the
earth, pitting them against the harsh desert environment of
Mexico's Baja Peninsula.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS: The Team has won FOUR Baja championships
in the Sportsman Truck Division in last six years. Team members
placed first in class at the 1998 Baja 1000, repeated again in
1999, in the millennium year 2000 Baja 2000, and now 2003.
WINNING IS SWEET: Team Canada Desert Racing (TCDR) won the
Sportsman Truck Class by crossing the finish line after 808
grueling miles at 15:41:25 on Saturday, November 22. The team
led the pack with lead off Driver Doug Granger and Michael Wright
Navigator running the first 100 miles and gaining a lead that was
never to be lost over the total 28.228 hours of drive time.
Driver Sabine Steinbrecher with Rocket Richard navigating
took over the wheel at 1:00 p.m. on Friday to drive late into the
night, covering next 2 pits and approximately 250 miles.
Richard and Sabine switched up around midnight to close next
250 miles by 9:00 a.m. with Richard piloting for a total of
20 punishing hours of total cockpit time for the pair.
Final leg was again picked up by Doug and Mike to bring home the
trophy. Just under 300 entries at the biggest Baja 1000 since
1991 (153 finished) where less than 1% of all drivers are female
and Sabine was the only woman on the podium that night of over
30 classes.
TEAM CANADA GOES HIGH TECH: This year, we utilized the
incredible AmazeTracking WESCOR EMS
satellite tracking system to provide instant email messaging
between race and chase vehicles and location tracking of all
vehicles. Specialized racing gear including air-flow helmets
supplied by G-force Racing Gear provided additional support
and relief to the team to contribute to the win.
For more info visit: www.score-international.com,
race coverage will be aired on Speed Channel.
Official Results
Dramatic end to the 2002 Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 26, 2002-
One of the most dramatic Baja 1000 races ever run by Team Canada Desert
Racing turned out to be the best of times and the worst of times!
The race began in the City of Ensenada, at the top of the Baja Peninsula in
Mexico, on Thursday November 21, 2002 with 244 entries in 30 classes. The
race was due to end in La Paz 1017 miles later with a total race time
allotment of 30 hours.
Off the starting line at 10:32 a.m. was 5 time Baja driver and 3 time Baja
champion Doug Granger and first time co-pilot and navigator Chris Tambakis.
At that time, the remaining crew and drivers left to pre-established driver
change and support locations further down the course.
Doug and Chris drove to tremendous results - they passed all of our class
within a very short period of time, and soon began passing other class
vehicles to establish a strong lead and our highest ever average speed which
they improved with every mile as the early, very rough terrain out of
Ensenada got slightly more forgiving and faster after the first 200 miles.
The truck was running extremely well, our new GPS system was making our
navigation more effective, our satellite GeoComm system was providing
immediate, first class communication between chase crew and race truck and
the crew were providing unbeatable support. All in all, we were destined
for the best race ever run and a very real shot at the trophy.
Our driver change was made successfully with 3 time Baja driver and 2 time
Baja Champion Mark Lehman taking the wheel and Chris remaining as navigator.
Approximately 89 miles later, just south of the Bay of LA on the Gulf coast,
not long after midnight, the truck rolled in a rather impressive crash,
thankfully, with absolutely no resulting injuries. The safety equipment
operated perfectly and the guys were completely safe (albeit good boy scout
stories of their night stranded in the desert!).
Sadly, the crash took us totally out of the race with a race truck that even
our amazing crew could not possibly fix in the desert and Rocket Richard
and I, who were to finish the last 450 miles of the race, were unable to
complete the race. This race historically allows less than half it's field
of predominantly very experienced teams to finish - so although
disappointing, it is understood that accidents are a possible outcome of
racing and particularly when racing to win.
The Team is even more excited than ever with the knowledge that we can
compete at this high level and we are extremely optimistic about the outcome
of future races - Sabine Steinbrecher.
For more info visit: www.score-international.com, race coverage will be aired on
Speed Channel.
Official Results
The Baja 1000 is in the books for 2001:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 9, 2001-
Team Canada Desert Racing is back home and delighted with our results. Our Team has won each of the last three years and placed a strong second in the sportsman truck class last week with less than 60 minutes shy of the winner in a 28+ hour race. Our competition was the strongest we've ever faced, placing second to an extremely sophisticated and experienced racing team with a pro-class vehicle. We have never been prouder of our performance and look forward to mustering what it takes to beat them next year.
The toughest, longest, dirtiest race in the world just got worse. Thankfully, our new, heavily modified, Jeep "Scrambler" (affectionately dubbed The Rocket by the Team) was invincible. Our average speed was up, we suffered no breakdowns or flats on what has already become known as the toughest course ever run in the 37-year history of the Baja 1000 off road race (thanks to the best crew in Canada lead by Howie Moore). In a race that is already considered the Ironman of racing, and all teams taking pride in simply making it across the finish line, this brutal course created casualties of over half the field of experienced, pro off road racers with only 44% of the 225 vehicles entered finishing the race.
Doug Granger and Harold Clampitt drove a tremendous first half and my co-driver Rocket Richard and I took her home (16 pounding hours-ouch!) Needless to say, with so many vehicles out of the race, we were very proud of the accolades we received at the finish line.
We are back and excited about mounting an initiative to take the flag to race Australia and back to Baja to regain our championship in 2002. We hope to be hosting a little party in the spring to celebrate and raise funds for the team and Lamplight (our charitable partner) and we will be sure to invite you all.
Take care and consider what our good friends at Lamplight always say, "life's a race, start your engines!" - Sabine Steinbrecher
For more info visit: www.score-international.com, race coverage will be aired on Speedvision on: December 23, 2001 - 10:00 AM and December 22, 2001 - 7:00 & 11:00 PM
Official Results
Third class WIN for Team Canada Racing in the Baja 2000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 14, 2000-
The longest Baja 1000 ever (2000 miles
for the milenium) tested the skill, stamina, and willpower of ...
Official Results
Another class WIN for Team Canada Racing in the Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 14, 1999-
Driving their new race-prepared Hummer, Team Canada Racing scored a second
class win in the 1999 Baja 1000 ...
WINNERS! Team Canada Racing scores class win in 1998 Baja 1000:
-ENSENADA, NOVEMBER 14, 1998-
They said it couldn't be done, but 6 guys in a Hummer showed up to win the
Sportsman Truck class in the 1998 Baja 1000 ...
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